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Elements of a Forgotten River Water Availability Strategy
-Design a minimum hydrograph for Ft. Quitman.
-Analyze delivery losses and depletions and determine amount of water necessary to
provide design hydrograph.
-Prepare a plan to manage next available surplus to achieve design hydrograph, based
on 1986-97 events.
-Participate in El Paso PSB "sustainable water project" to manifest environmental
enhancement as an element of the city's strategic plan.
-Apply to TNRCC for unappropriated flows (Project leakage) at Ft. Quitman as an in
stream water right. Defend river in state adjudication proceedings.
-Intervene on behalf of the river in the BuRec "Quiet Title" suit (e.g. clarifying ownership
of Project leakage).
-Explore lease and/or purchase of Project water rights.
-Promote agricultural water conservation as an addition source of supply for purchase
(or to offset releases from storage at Elephant Butte).
Despite increasing scientific understanding of rivers, lower Rio Grande decision makers still see the basin through a filter of pervasive mythology. We note the popularly held view that the Rio Grande is perpetually (and quite properly) dry at Ft. Quitman and conclude that what is uncritically accepted by many water managers is an oft repeated, Orwellian, "big lie". This region needs lots of water for its farms, its industries, its municipal delivery systems. As society goes about accommodating these great and growing thirsts, the water necessary to revive a dying river still exists, tantalizingly close, not yet a mirage.
Before the Forgotten River is restored, there will be hard work; great questions will have to be answered. No technical or legal answer offered will be so important as the answer to this one: Do we, the dependants of the Rio Grande, possess the will to reclaim her?
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